Cash register



Aug. 6, 1940. A. R. COLLEY ET AL CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

John B. Gears Inve Arthur R. Colley and ntors By M W Their Attorney Aug. 6, 1940' A. R. COLLEY ET AL 2.210,065

CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arthur R. cone and John B. Geers Inventors Their Attorney Aug. 6, 1940- A. R. COLLEY ET AL CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 25, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 llmmm I mm" lllummmlmml Aug. 6, 1940.

A. R. COLLEY ET AL CASH REGISTER Original Filed Nov. 25, 1936 FIG. 8

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.1O

Arthur R. Culley and John B. Geers Inventors By MM Their Attorney Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASH REGISTER Arthur R. Culley and John B. Geers, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Maryland (1926) Ohio, a corporation of 4 Claims.

This invention relates to cash registers and like machines and is particularly directed to machines of the class illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,619,- 796, granted March 1, 1927, to B. M. Shipley, and Patents Nos. 1,817,883 and 1,865,147, issued respectively August 4, 1931, and June 28, 1932, to B. M. Shipley. This application is a division of application Serial No. 112,656, which was filed on November 25, 1936.

An object of the invention is to provide novel interlocking means for certain keys, and means to control the operation of the interlocking means in various kinds of machine operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide for various interlocks to enforce the proper operation of the machine.

Another object is to provide novel means, ef-= fective in multiple-item transactions, to control the depression and release of certain control keys.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel mechanism for controlling the releasing and retaining of certain control keys in singleand multiple-item transactions.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the keyboard of the machine embodying the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the clerks I bank and its associated differential mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the machine as observed from the right, and illustrates in particular the transaction bank and its associated differential mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the interlock between the clerks bank and the machine-releasing mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail View of the total control lever and a part of the mechanism associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the mechanism for initiating operation of the machine.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the right-hand end of the machine showing the transaction bank, the machine-releasing mechanism, and the cyclecontrolling mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a left side View of the single-item and multiple-item controlling mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a left side elevation showing the mechanism for preventing the release of the clerks keys during multiple-item transactions, and the mechanism forunlocking the machine-releasing mechanism when the total control lever is moved away from adding position.

Fig. 10 is a detail View of a part of the mechanism for controlling the depression and the release of the clerks keys.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of certain of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The machine embodying this invention is arranged to perform single-item and multiple-item transactions. A single-item transaction consists of the entering of a single item in the selected transaction and clerks totalizers and the printing of this item upon both the body and the stub of an issuing receipt.

A multiple-item transaction consists of a series of item-entering operations followed by an enforced clearing operation. During the item-entering operations, the items are accumulated in the multiple-item totalizer as well as in the proper transaction and clerks totalizers and simultaneously the amount of each item is printed upon the main portion or body of the receipt. In the enforced clearing operation following a series of multiple-item entering operations, the multiple-item totalizer is reset to zero and the total is printed upon the main portion and the stub of the receipt.

In machines performing these operations, it is highly desirable that various keys should be operated in certain operations and be blocked against operation in others. It is also necessary that keys be released in certain operations and retained depressed in other operations. Novel mechanisms have been provided to insure that the keys will be locked and released under the proper conditions, and these mechanisms form the subject matter of this divisional application.

More specifically, the novel mechanisms comprise means variously operable in single-item, multiple-item, and multiple-item total operations for causing certain keys, such as the clerks keys, to be released after each single-item transaction; to be retained depressed during the several multiple-item entering operations and to prevent any other like control key from being depressed during these entering operations; and to release the depressed key during a multiple-item total operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The mechanism of the present invention is embodied in the well-known type of cash register fully disclosed in the patents referred to at the beginning of this specification. For this reason, mechanism of standard construction which is not pertinent to the present invention will be but briefly described.

M achz'nc framework Most of the mechanism of the instant machine is supported between a right frame 69 (Fig. 7) and a left frame 6I (Fig. 2), both of which are securedto a machine base 92. The entire. machine is enclosed bya suitable case or cabinet 63.

Operating mechanism The machine of the instant inventionis-pr'eferably operated by means of a suitable electric motor (not shown). However, if desiredQor if rendered necessary by failure of the electrical current, the machine may be manually operated by means of a crank Bl (Fig. '7). Whether the machine is operated electrically or manually, the operation is initiated by depression of a starting bar 68 (Figs. 6 and 7). Depressing the starting bar 68, by means of a stud I2 carried thereby in cooperation with the bifurcated end of a crank it, rocks said crank counter-clockwise on its pivot It secured in the frame 60. Counter-clockwise movement of the crank 13 by means of a connecting link 'iflimparts'similar movementto a release pawl 16 loosely supported on a shaft 'I'i, opposite ends of which are journaled in the frames 59 and BI;

Counter-clockwise movement of the release pawl "it moves the rearward end thereof out of the path of an arcuate surface on a half-round stud Z8 secured in the lower end of a crank I9 fast to a key lock shaft 39 journaled in the frames (59 and 6!. This releases the key lock shaft 89 to the action of a compressionspring BI (Fig. 7), which imparts a slight clockwise movement to said shaft 88. The spring 8! fits loosely over a tongue in a slot 82 in a key release link 83, and over a tongue on a link 84, the upper end of which is loosely supported on a stud 85 secured in one arm of a crank 86 secured on the'right-hand end of the key lock shaft 80. It is thereforeobvious, from observing Figs. 6 and 7, that, when the release pawl 16 retains the key lock shaft 89 in untripped position, the spring BI is compressed, and as soon as said release pawl is moved out of the path of the stud I8 by depressing starting bar 68, the spring 8] immediately rocks the key lock shaft 89 clockwise until such movement is terminated by an extension of the crank 96 contacting a stud 81 secured in the frame 60.

Clockwise movement of the shaft 89 closes the motor switch and causes the motor to be clutched to the machine to drive the main shaft 99 and other mechanisms in the machine which form no part of this invention.

Operation of the motor rotates the main drive shaft 99 clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 7, one revolution in adding operations and two revolutions in total-taking operations. After the shaft 99 has completed the necessary number of revolutions to effect the type of operation being performed, the key lock shaft 89 (Figs. 6 and 7) is restored counterclockwise to untripped position, thus permittingthe spring II to return the starting bar 68 upwardly and the release pawl I6 clockwise into the path of the stud I8 to restrain releasing movement of the shaft 80. The restoring of the key lock shaft 80 is effected by the cycle-controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 7, which will be explained later.

In case the operator accidentally or inadvertently retains the starting bar 68 (Figs. 6 and '7) depressed at the end of a machine operation, a repeat operation of the machine is prevented by means of a non-repeat pawl I92 fulcrumed on the shaft Tl, said pawl being spring-urged into the a path of the stud it, upon restoration of the key lock shaft, to obstruct releasing movement of said shaft. This prevents the machine from being again set in motion until the starting bar 68 is released and returned upwardly by the spring II. Upon restoration of the starting bar 68 to undepressed position, a rearward extension of the pawl 16, which overlies the non-repeat pawl I02, returns said pawl clockwise to ineffective position assaid pawl I6 is returned into the path of the stud I8. The non-repeat pawl I02 is slightly longer than the release pawl I6, which prevents said pawl 16 from stumbling on the stud I8 upon restoration of the starting bar 68 and causes said stud I8 to obstruct counter-clockwise movement of the pawl I02 to prevent said pawl from interfering with the clockwise releasing movement of the key lock shaft 89.

Cycle-controlling mechanism In adding operations, the main drive shaft 99 makes one cycle of movement, or one revolution clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 7, and in totaltaking operations, said main drive shaft makes two revolutions or two cycles of movement. Revolution of the shaft 99 is governed by means of a cycle controlling mechanism shown in Fig. "I and now to be described.

Secured on the right-hand end of the main drive shaft 99 (Fig. '7) is a gear I93, which meshes with a large gear 109 fulcrumed on a stud I05 fast in the frame M. A pitman IE6 is slotted to embrace the stud I95 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to one arm of a lever IDI loose on a stud I98 fast in the frame 60. A link I09 connects another arm of the lever ID! to a crank II5 securedon the right-hand end of a zero stop throwout shaft IIE journaled in the frames 60 and 6!. The zero stop throwout shaft IIG functions only in total-taking operations.

The pitman I 06 carries a stud III embraced by the lower bifurcated end of the key release link 83. The upper end of the key release link 83 is slotted to receive the stud 85, as explained earlier herein. The link 83 has an L-shaped slot I I 8, which cooperates with a stud II9 in a key release lever I29, fulcrumed on the stud I98, and carrying a roller I2! which extends within a cam groove I 22 in the face of the gear I04. 9

The functions of the machine-adding, reading, and resetting-are controlled by means of a total control lever or plate I 23 (Fig. 5) pivoted on 'a stud I24, extending between two support plates (not shown) mounted on rods extending between the frames 50 and BI. When the total control lever I23 is in adding position, as here shown, the link 83 is positioned as shown in Fig. 7, so that the forward branch of the slot II8 engages the stud H9.

In adding operations, the main drive shaft 99 and the gear I03 make one clockwise revolution and the gear IM is driven one-half of a revolution in a counter-clockwise direction by said gear I03. The groove I22 in the gear I04 is concentric with the center I05 with the exception of two identical diametrically opposed camming sections thereof. Near the end of an adding operation, one of the camming sections of the groove I22, in cooperation with the roller I'll, rocks the lever I20'first clockwise and then back to normal position. Clockwise movement of the lever I20 moves the link 33 downwardly, which, by means of the stud 35 in the arm 86, imparts counter-clockwise movement to the key lock shaft 80 to restore said shaft to untripped position in the manner explained earlier herein. Restoring movement of the shaft 80 also releases the depressed amount, transaction, and clerks keys; opens the switch to the electric motor; and disengages the clutch mechanism which connects the motor to the'machine mechanism.

In reading or resetting operations, the main drive shaft 99 makes two clockwise revolutions in order to operate the machine through the two cycles of movement necessary in total-taking operations. This is efiected in the following manner:

Moving the total control lever I23 (Fig. 5) away from adding position to either reading or resetting position causes a camming slot I25 therein, in cooperation with a stud I23 in a lever I21 pivoted at I28, to rock said lever I21 counterclockwise. Loose on the pivot 320 is an arm I29 carrying a stud which is normally maintained in contact with an upward extension of the lever' I2'I by a spring I30, thus forming a flexible connection between said arm I29 and said lever I21. Substantially one-half of a camming slot I 3I is formed in the arm I29 and the other half in the lever I2'I, said slot being arranged to cooperate with a roller I32 carried by an arm I33 secured to the zero stop throwout shaft H6. The slot I3I, in cooperation with the roller I32, rocks the shaft II5 a slight distance clockwise when the lever I21 is rocked counter-clockwise by shifting the total control lever I23 away from adding position, as explained above. Clockwise movement of the shaft I I6, by means of the arm H5 and the link I09 (Fig. 7), rocks the lever I01 clockwise to shift the pitman I06 forwardly. Forward movement of the pitman I06 shifts the link 83 a slight distance clockwise but not sufficiently to move the forward branch of the slot IIB out of engagement with the stud H9.

The pitman I06 carries two studs !34, which straddle a right-angled projection E35 of a slide I36 loose in an angular slot in the back face of a cam I31 loose in a recess in the face of the gear I04 and rotatable on the stud I05. The cam I31 has a cam groove I 33 adapted to cooperate with a roller I39 carried by the pitman I06. A nose I40 of the slide I36 is arranged to engage a recess MI in the gear I04 to lock the cam I31 to said gear in total-taking operations.

When the total control lever I23 is in adding position, the pitman !06 is in the positionv shown in Fig. '7, in which position the nose I40 of the slide I36 is disengaged from the recess MI and the roller I39 is moved out of the camming groove I38 into engagement with a notch in the heart of the cam I3? to retain. said cam stationary. Moving the total control lever away from adding position imparts clockwise movement to the shaft H6 and the lever I01 to shift the pitman I06 forwardly in the manner explained above. Forward movement of the pitman I06, in addition to moving the link 83, shifts the slide I36 forwardly to engage the nose I40 thereof with the recess MI to lock the cam I31 to the gear I04. Forward movement of the pitman I06 likewise disengages the roller I39 from the notch in the heart of the cam I31 and moves said roller into the cam groove I38. Depressing the starting bar 68 sets the machine in motion for a total-taking operation.

Near the end of the first clockwise revolution or first cycle of movement of the shaft 99, the cam groove I38 shifts the pitman I06 an additional distance forwardly to move the downwardly-extending portion of the slot II8 in the link 83 opposite the stud II9. This provides clearance for said stud and permits the irregular portion of the groove I22, in cooperation with the roller I2I to rock the lever I20 idly back and forth without imparting downward releasing and restoring movement to the link 83 and the key lock shaft 80. This prevents the opening of the switch to the motor and the disengaging of the clutch mechanism and the releasing of the keys, thus causing the machine to begin another cycle.

Near the end of the second cycle of operation, the groove I38 returns the pitman I06 rearwardly to re-engage the forward branch of the slot II8 with the stud II9. It is, therefore, obvious that when the second irregular portion of the slot I22 imparts clockwise movement to the lever I20, said lever will move the link 83 down wardly to restore the key lock shaft 80 counterclockwise to terminate operation of the machine and to release the depressed clerk or transaction key. Return movement counter-clockwise of the lever I20 and the link 83 permits the stud I0 (Fig. 6) to come to rest against the end of the release pawl I6. The link 83 continues to travel upwardly a slight distance independently of the shaft 80 and the stud 85 to compress the spring BI and to provide clearance for said stud 35, to permit clockwise releasing movement of the shaft 80 when the starting bar 08 is again depressed. Returning the total control lever to adding position disengages the slide I36 from the recess MI and re-engages the roller I39 with the notch in the heart of the cam I 31. As previously stated, the machine may be operated manually by means of the crank 61 (Fig. 7). The crank 61 carries a stud which is journaled in a bushing I42 secured to the frame 60. Integral with the crank 61 is a pinion I43, which meshes with the gear I04, thus providing a means for rotating the main drive shaft 99 manually,

Amount keys and amount differentials The details of the amount keys and amount differentials form no part of this invention and will not be described herein. A complete description of this mechanism is given in the parent case, to which reference may be had for details of this mechanism.

Totalizers and transaction keys The machine embodying this invention has three lines of totalizers; namely, a #1 or multiple-item line, a #2 or clerks line, and a #3 or transaction line. The #1 totalizer line has one set of wheels and is used in multiple-item operations to accumulate the total amount of a plurality of items. The #2 line has five sets of wheels selected by means of a row of corresponding clerks keys 204 (Figs. 1 and 2) to accumulate totals of Cash and Received-onaccount transactions. The #3 totalizer line has four sets of wheels, selected by means of a row of transaction keys 265, 266, 201, 208, 209, and M5 (Figs. 1 and 3).

These totalizer lines are not shown herein, as they form no part of theinstant invention. Reference may be had to the parent case for further details of the totalizers.

The keys of the transaction bank are divided into'two groups. One of said groups consists of three multiple-item keys; namely, an Item charge key 265, an Item cash key 266, and an Item add key 261. The other group of transaction keys consists of four single-item keys; namely, Cash, Charge, Received-on-account, and Paid out. The bank of transaction keys also includes a No-sale key 269 and a Release key 2 l5.

Depressing one of the transaction keys moves the lower end of the stem thereof into the path of a latch M6 to control a differential device EH6, and upon operation of the machine, the differential moves the latch 2M into engagement with the stem of the depressed transaction key, which breaks the latch of the transaction differential in a position corresponding to said key. The differential 2l6 has the usual beam 211 positioned commensurate therewith, and said differential positioning is transmitted to link 2l9 through a bifurcated end of said beam cooperating with a stud 2l8 in said link 2H9 and moving said link 2l6 when the roller 2'l3 engages the beam 2 IT.

The upper end of the link 2H) is pivotally connected to an indicator segment 226 loose on the indicator shaft !86, and the lower end of said link 2H; is pivotally connected to an arm 22!, secured to a segment 222 loose on the shaft fill. The operation of segment 222 (Fig. 3') does not enter into the instant invention and will not be described in this application.

The beam 2!? and the link 2) differentially position the transaction indicator segment 22!! and its associated indicator commensurate with the depressed transaction key. An indicator Clerks keys and differential mechanism therefor As previously stated, the machine embodying this invention has a row of clerks keys 2134 (Figs. 1 and 2) located on the extreme left-hand side of thekeyboard. These keys are used to select corresponding sets of totalizer wheels on the No. 2 or clerks totalizer line for either adding or total-taking operations. An interlocking mechanism between the total control lever, the clerks keys, and the machine releasing mechanism makes it necessary to depress one of the clerks keys before the machine can be released for adding operations. However, this interlocking mechanism is rendered ineffective in total-taking operations. In single-item transactions the clerks keys are released near the end of each operation, while in multiple-item transactions the depressed olerks keys remains depressed dur ing the item-entering operations and is released in the final compulsory multiple-item clearing operation.

The clerks keys 266 are mounted in a frame 23 supported by the rod Hi1 and a stud 235. Depressing one of the clerks keys 266 moves the lower end. thereof into the path of a projection 236 of a differential control lever 23'! loose on a stud 238 in the left frame 6!. The details of the clerks bank differential form no partof this invention and will not be described herein. This mechanism is described in detail in the parent case, to which reference may be had for these details.

Singleand multiple-item transaction control mechanism As stated previously, the. machine embodying the present invention is capable of single-item and multiple-item transactions. A single-item transaction is one in which one item is entered in a single operation of the machine, and a multiple-item transaction is one in which several items are entered in as many operations of the machine, all of said'items being entered under one transaction heading, such as Item cash or Item charge. Each multiple-item transaction includes a final clearing operation in. which the multiple-item or #1 totalizer is cleared or reset.

The indicator segment 220 (Fig. 3), which is differentially positioned under control of the transaction keys, as explained previously, is operatively connected by a tube 356 rotatably supported by the indicator shaft I88 to a plate cam 35l (Fig. 8), the periphery of which is adapted to cooperate with a roller 353 in one arm of a yoke 356 turnably mounted on a shaft 355 journaled in the frame 6! and a printer frame shown in the parent case but not shown herein. The yoke 354 is operatively connected to an arm 356, secured on the shaft 355, by means of a roller 35'! in a link 358, which roller extends through a slot 359 in said arm 356 and a slot 365 in a downwardly-extending arm of the yoke 364. The other end of u the link 356 is pivotally connected to an arm 366 fulcrumed on a stud 361 in the frame 61. An extension of said arm 366 is normally maintained in contact with an abutment 368 by a spring 369.

One end of a link 316 is pivotally connected to the arm 366 and the other end of said link is slotted to embrace a stud 3' in a crank 312 secured to the zero stop throwout shaft H6. A spring 376 urges the yoke 354 clockwise to normally maintain the roller- 353 in contact with the periphery of the cam 35!. The operation of this mechanism is as follows:

In single-item transactions and in certain total-taking operations, the single-item keys 208 (Fig. 3) position the plate cam 35l (Fig. 8) so that the low portion of the periphery thereof is opposite the roller 353, and this positioning, by means of the roller 35! and the arm 356, positions the shaft 355 directly in its single-item control position.

In multiple-item transactions, depressing one of the multiple-item keys 265, 266, or 26'! (Fig. 3) by means of the differential mechanism here shown, positions the plate cam 35! (Fig 8) so that the high portion of the periphery thereof is opposite the roller 353, to rock the yoke 354 counter-clockwise. This movement of the yoke 354, by means of the train of mechanism shown in Fig. 8, rocks the shaft 355 counter-clockwise. The shaft 355 remains in this position until during the latter part of the first cycle of the compulsory clearing operation following the multipleitem entering operations.

In the final clearing operation of a multipleitem transaction, the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, which, as previously explained, imparts mechanical clockwise movement tothe zero stop throwout shaft H6, as viewed in Fig. 7, and counter-clockwise movement to said shaft as viewed in Fig. 8, causes the crank 312 in cooperation with the link 310 and. the arm 366 to shift the link 358 downwardly in the manner explained earlier herein. This causes the stud 35'! in the upper end of said link 358, in cooperation with the slots 365 and 359, to shift the arm 355 and the shaft 355 clockwise back to normal position independently of the yoke 354 The link 358 is locked in its downward position by means of a projection S63 thereon, in cooperation with a flat surface on a half-round stud 685 carried by an arm 686 loose on the shaft I88 and urged clockwise by a spring 68'! to normally maintain a stud 688 therein in contact with the top surface of a link 689 pivotally connecting a crank 690, secured on the key lock shaft 80, to the upper end of a lever 69! fulcrumed on a stud (not shown) in the frame 6|.

Depressing the starting bar 58 (Figs. 6 and 7) releases the key lock shaft to the action of the spring 8|, which urges said key lock shaft counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 8, to set the machine in motion. The counter-cl0ckwise movement of the shaft 88 and the crank 690 shifts the link 689 forwardly to move the inclined top edge thereof away from the stud 688 to permit the spring 681 to move the stud 685 into resilient contact with the top surface of the projection 663. Consequently, when the link 35B is shifted downwardly, in the manner explained above, the stud 685 drops behind the projection 863 to block return movement upwardly of said link until the key lock shaft is restored near the end of the multiple-item clearing operation. Restoring movement counter-clockwise of the key lock shaft 80, under influence of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, shifts the link 689 rearwardly (Fig. 8), causing the inclined upper surface thereof to engage the stud 588 and rock the arm 686 counter-clockwise to disengage the stud 685 from the projection 853 to permit the link 358 to be returned upwardly by the spring 369. The zero stop throwout shaft H6 is restored before the key lock shaft 86 and the slot in the link 310 permits the link 358 to remain stationary while said shaft H6 is being restored.

The positioning of the shaft 355 variably controls the operation of several mechanisms in the machine in singleand multiple-item transactions. Only its control over the releasing and locking of the clerks keys will be considered herein. Reference may be had to the parent case for details of how the positioning of this shaft controls the operation of the other mechanisms.

Interlocking mechanism for the clerics keys An interlocking device between the clerks keys and the key lock shaft prevents releasing the machine for operation in all adding transactions unless a clerks key is depressed. However, shifting the total control lever away from adding position unlocks the key lock shaft, the same as depressing one of the clerks keys, and thereby permits reading or resetting.

In total-taking and sub-total-taking operations, it is desirable to be able to release the machine for operations without the necessity of depressing an amount key, and moving the total control lever I23 (Figs, 5 and 9) rocks the shaft H6 and the cam 336 counter-clockwise, causing the camming slot 335, in cooperation with the roller 337, to shift the arm 33B clockwise, which movement is transmitted by the link 339 to the pawl 34l pivoted on the stud 342. Clockwise movement of the pawl 3 causes the stud 340,.in cooperation with an arm of a lever 146, to rock said lever counter-clockwise on its pivot 14'! fast in the frame 6!. A bifurcated arm of the lever 146 straddles a stud 148 secured in an extension of the latch 144 (Fig. 9); consequently, counterclockwise movement of said lever 146 rocks the latch 144 to permit the releasing of the machine in total-taking operations without the necessity of depressing one or more of the amount keys. When the total control lever is returned to adding position, a spring 749 (Fig. 9) returns the lever [46 clockwise in unison therewith to restore the latch 144 counter-clockwise to effective position, as here shown. For further details of this mechanism, reference may be had to the parent application. In single-item transactions, the depressed clerks key is released automatically at the end of each machine operation. However, in multiple-item transactions, mechanism controlled by the transaction keys disables the automatic releasing mechanism and locks the clerks key depressed until the compulsory multiple-item clearing operation. This mechanism is shown best in Figs. 9 and 10 and will now be described.

Each of the clerks keys 2114 (Figs. 2 and 9) carries a stud 69'! adapted to cooperate with hook-shaped projections 698 of a locking detent 599 and inclined camming surfaces of a plate 795. The detent 699 and the plate are mounted for radial movement on studs 'HH and 192 fast in the clerks key frame 234. Springs 103 and "H34 urge the detent B99 and the plate 100 clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively, to normally maintain the ends of radial slots therein in contact with the studs 10! and 782.

Depressing one of the clerks keys 254 causes the stud 691, in cooperation with an angular camming surface on the projection 688, to shift the detent 699 counter-clockwise until said stud 59'! passes beyond the hook-shaped portion of the projection 698. The spring H33 then returns said detent 699 clockwise to cause the hookshaped portion thereof to latch over a flat surface of the stud 691 to retain the clerks key depressed. In case the wrong clerks key is inadvertently depressed, depressing the correct clerks key releases the previously depressed key by shifting the detent 699 counter-clockwise and return movement clockwise of said detent under action of the spring 103 retains the correct clerks key depressed.

The detent 699 carries a stud "35 which cooperates with the upper end of a lever I06 fulcrumed on a stud 101 secured in the key frame 234 (Fig. 2). The other end of the lever 106 cooperates with a stud 108 in an extension of a lever 109 rotatable on a stationary stud H5 in the printer frame, not shown herein. An extension H6 of the lever 1B9 cooperates with a stud H7 in a crank H8 fast on the key lock shaft 80. The lever 709 carries a stud H9 embraced by a bifurcated arm of a bell crank pivoted on a stud 1H in the printer frame, not shown herein. Another arm of the bell crank 72!! has connected thereto one end of a link 722, the other end of which is slotted to receive a stud 123 in a downward extension of the lever 585 fastened to shaft 355. A spring 124 stretched between the link I22 and an extension of the lever 585 urges said link (22 forwardly to normally maintain the stud 123 in contact with the end of the slot in said link to position the bell crank 120 and the lever 109.

When the mechanism shown in Fig. 7 imparts clockwise movement to the key lock shaft 80, as

viewed in Fig. 9, near the end of machine operations to release the depressed keys, such'movement causes the stud 111 in the crank 1| 8 to engage the projection 11B and rock the lever 109 counter-clockwise against tension of the spring 124. Counter-clockwise movement of the lever.159 causes the stud 158 to rock the lever also counter-clockwise, to cause the upper end of said lever, in cooperation with the stud 155, to shift the detent 599 rearwardly or counterclockwise to release the depressed clerks key. The clerks keys are automatically released in this manner in all single-item transactions and in all reading and resetting operations. However, in multiple-item transactions, counterclockwise movement of the shaft 355 (Figs. 8 and 9) caused by the high portion of the periphery of the cam 351, which is positioned opposite the roller 353 by the depression of any of the multiple-item transaction keys 205, 206, or 21 (Figs. 1 and 3), rocks the lever 585 (Fig. 9) in unison therewith to shift the link 122 forwardly. This, by means of the bell crank 12!], rocks the key releasing lever 19 clockwise to move the projection thereof out of the path of the stud H1 andto move the stud 158 out of contact with the lower end of the lever 106. This prevents the depressed clerks key from being released upon clockwise releasing movement of the key lock shaft 85 near the end of multiple-item entering operations.

However, it is desirable to have the depressed clerks key released in the final clearing operation of a multiple-item transaction, and this is accomplished by the downward shifting of the link 358 (Fig. 8) under influence of the Zero stop throwout shaft H6, which, as brought out hereinbefore, shifts the shaft 355 and the lever 585 (see also Fig. 9) independently of the yoke 354. Clockwise movement of the shaft 355 and the lever 585 returns the release lever 109 counterclockwise to again move the projection 1| 6 thereof in the path of the stud H1 so that clockwise releasing movement of the shaft 80 will release the depressed clerks key during the last cycle of a multiple-item clearing operation.

A hook 125 (Figs. 9 and 10) connected to the lever 109 is adapted to cooperate with an abrupt surface 126 out in the periphery of a locking plate 121 loose on the key lock shaft 80 and springurged clockwise to normally maintain a stud 128 carried thereby in contact with a finger 125 of an arm secured on the shaft 85. Counter-clockwise releasing movement of the shaft 80, caused by the spring 81 (Fig. 7) when the starting bar 58 is depressed, causes the arm 130, in cooperation with the stud 128, to move the locking plate 121 in unison therewith to move the abrupt surface 126 thereof below the hook 125 connected to the lever 159, whereupon clockwise movement of said lever 1139, under influence of the shaft 355 and the lever 585, in the first item-entering operation of a multiple-item transaction, causes said hook 125 to latch over the abrupt surface 126 to latch the plate 121 in the position indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 10. This retains a projection 131 of the plate 121 in the path of an extension 132 of the locking detent 699 to obstruct counter-clockwise releasing movement of said detent to lock the depressed clerks key and to prevent the depression of another clerks key during a multiple-item transaction. In the final clearing operation of a multiple-item transaction, clockwise movement of the shaft 355 and the lever 585 under influence of the link 358 (Fig. 8)

(Figs. 9 and 10) rocks the detent 599 counterv clockwise to move the extension 132 above and in the path of the projection 13!, which, by means of the stud 123 and the projection 129, obstructs counter-clockwise releasing movement of the shaft 80 until the clerks key is fully depressed.

In all adding operations, including single-item operations and the item-entering operations of multiple-item transactions, a tooth 133 (Figs. 4, 9, and 10) of the plate 121, in cooperation with the tooth of a latch 135 pivoted on'the stud 101 and bifuracted on its upper end to straddle a stud 135 in the plate 150, obstructs clockwise releasing movement of the shaft 85 unless a clerks key 255 is depressed. Depressing a clerks key 24 causes the pin 691 therein, in cooperation with the inclined camming surface of the corresponding notch in the plate 155, to move said plate clockwise to shift the tooth of the latch 134 out of the path of the tooth 133, to permit the machine to be released for operation.

Moving the total control lever I23 (Fig. 5) away from adding position, by means of the mechanism here shown, imparts a slight counter-clockwise movement to the zero stop throwout shaft H6, as viewed in Fig. 9, causing a raised surface 135 of the cam 335, secured on said shaft, in cooperation with a roller 151 on a pitman 138, to shift said pitman upwardly. The pitman 138 is bifurcated at its lower end to straddle the shaft l I 6, while the upper end thereof is connected to a lever 139 loose on the rod 235 (Fig. 2), which supports the lower end of the clerks key frame 234. Upward movement of the pitman 138 rocks the lever 135 clockwise, causing a projection thereof, in cooperation with a stud 146 secured in an extension of the plate 100, to move said plate clockwise or downwardly to rock the tooth of the latch 134 (Fig. l) out of the path of the tooth 133 in the plate 121 to permit releasing of the machine for total-taking operations without the necessity of depressing a clerks key.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is;

1. In a machine of the class described, adapted to perform multiple-item transactions consisting of item-entering operations and a final clearing operation, the combination of depressible control keys; a shaft adapted to be rocked back and forth each machine operation; a shiftable plate'to retain the control keys depressed; means interposed between the plate and the shaft whereupon rocking movement of said shaft shifts the plate to release the depressed control key;

means effective in multiple-item entering operations to move a part of the interposed means to inefiective position to prevent the rocking movement of the shaft from causing the release of the depressed control key; and means effective in multiple item clearing operations and cooperating with the moving means to return the part of the interposed means to effective position to cause the depressed control key to be released.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of depressible control keys; a shiftable plate to retain the control keys depressed; a shaft, adapted to be rocked in one direction to set the machine in motion and in another direction to release the depressed control keys; means interposed between the shaft and the plate, to transmit releasing movement of the shaft to shift the plate to release the depressed control keys, said means including a rockable member shiftable to a position to disable the transmission of the movement of the shaft to the plate; an element on the shaft, moved to a position under control of the shaft, when the shaft is operated in one direction, to obstruct movement of the plate to prevent the depression of another control key; a retaining arm fastened to said rockable member; and means to shift the rockable member to render the key releasing movement of the shaft ineffective to move the plate and to cause said retaining arm to retain the element in effective position to prevent the depression of another control key irrespective of the movement of the shaft.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of depressible control keys; a shiftable plate to retain the control keys depressed; a shaft movable in each machine operation in a direction to shift the plate to release the depressed control key; means to transmit the movement of the shaft to the shiftable plate; means effective in certain operations to shift a part of the transmitting means to disable the transmitting means and prevent the release of the depressed control key; blocking means shiftable to a position to engage the plate and prevent the depression of another control key; and means connected to said part, and operable when the part is shifted, to retain the blocking means in position as long as the transmitting means is disabled.

4. In a machine of the character described, adapted to perform multiple-item transactions consisting of item-entering operations and a final clearing operation, the combination of depressible control keys; a shaft adapted to be rocked back and forth each machine operation, initial movement thereof to set the machine in motion and final movement to release the depressed control keys; a shiftable plate to retain the control keys depressed; connections normal- 1y coupling the shiftable plate to the shaft whereupon final movement of said shaft rocks the plate to release the depressed control key; an element on the shaft movable with the shaft upon initial movement thereof, to a position to obstruct movement of the plate to lock the control keys against further operation; means connected to a part of the connections; means effective in multiple-item entering operations to shift said part of the connections to render final movement of the shaft inefiective and to cause said means connected to the part of the connections to engage the element to retain the element in obstructing position; and means effective in multiple-item clearing operations to return the part of the connections and the means connected thereto back to normal position.

ARTHUR R. COLLEY. JOHN B. GEERS. 

